The Maharashtra State Excise Department on Saturday arrested three people for selling spurious liquor disguised as branded liquor. During investigation the department found the accused brought spurious liquor from Silvassa and Goa, and suspect that they sold it to hotels in Vasai and Virar by forging the stamps and labels of branded liquors.

According to the department, its Palghar unit, based on reliable information, stopped a tempo in the district and found liquor bottles hidden in it. During interrogation, the tempo driver revealed  another tempo was headed for the route, and the department's team stopped it. This other tempo, in which the other accused were travelling, was found to be carrying cold drinks, but after a thorough check the team found dozens of duplicate liquor bottles hidden in it.